Trump gives Ukraine more arms, floats Russia sanctions
Trump, who pledged as a presidential candidate to end the war within a day, has not been able to follow through on that promise and efforts by his administration to broker peace have come up short.
Trump directed his ire at Putin on Tuesday during a meeting with cabinet officials at the White House.
"I'm not happy with Putin. I can tell you that much right now," Trump said, noting that Russian and Ukrainian soldiers were dying in the thousands.
"This is killing a lot of people.
"We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin. ... He's very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless."
Trump said he was considering whether to support a bill in the Senate that would impose steep sanctions on Russia over the war.
"I'm looking at it very strongly," he said.
The bill, whose lead sponsors are Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, would also punish other countries that trade with Moscow, imposing 500 per cent tariffs on nations that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports.
Trump said on Monday that the United States would send more weapons to Ukraine, primarily defensive ones, to help it defend itself against Russian advances. On Tuesday he said he had approved such a move.
"We're sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine, and I've approved that," he said.
A decision by the Pentagon to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv last week that the move would weaken its ability to defend against Russia's intensifying air strikes and battlefield advances.
Trump, who was seated next to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was asked on Tuesday who had ordered that pause.
"I don't know. Why don't you tell me?" Trump responded.
with AP
President Donald Trump says he has approved sending US defensive weapons to Ukraine and is considering additional sanctions on Moscow, underscoring his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the growing death toll in Russia's war with Ukraine.
Trump, who pledged as a presidential candidate to end the war within a day, has not been able to follow through on that promise and efforts by his administration to broker peace have come up short.
Trump directed his ire at Putin on Tuesday during a meeting with cabinet officials at the White House.
"I'm not happy with Putin. I can tell you that much right now," Trump said, noting that Russian and Ukrainian soldiers were dying in the thousands.
"This is killing a lot of people.
"We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin. ... He's very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless."
Trump said he was considering whether to support a bill in the Senate that would impose steep sanctions on Russia over the war.
"I'm looking at it very strongly," he said.
The bill, whose lead sponsors are Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, would also punish other countries that trade with Moscow, imposing 500 per cent tariffs on nations that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports.
Trump said on Monday that the United States would send more weapons to Ukraine, primarily defensive ones, to help it defend itself against Russian advances. On Tuesday he said he had approved such a move.
"We're sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine, and I've approved that," he said.
A decision by the Pentagon to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv last week that the move would weaken its ability to defend against Russia's intensifying air strikes and battlefield advances.
Trump, who was seated next to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was asked on Tuesday who had ordered that pause.
"I don't know. Why don't you tell me?" Trump responded.
with AP
President Donald Trump says he has approved sending US defensive weapons to Ukraine and is considering additional sanctions on Moscow, underscoring his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the growing death toll in Russia's war with Ukraine.
Trump, who pledged as a presidential candidate to end the war within a day, has not been able to follow through on that promise and efforts by his administration to broker peace have come up short.
Trump directed his ire at Putin on Tuesday during a meeting with cabinet officials at the White House.
"I'm not happy with Putin. I can tell you that much right now," Trump said, noting that Russian and Ukrainian soldiers were dying in the thousands.
"This is killing a lot of people.
"We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin. ... He's very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless."
Trump said he was considering whether to support a bill in the Senate that would impose steep sanctions on Russia over the war.
"I'm looking at it very strongly," he said.
The bill, whose lead sponsors are Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, would also punish other countries that trade with Moscow, imposing 500 per cent tariffs on nations that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports.
Trump said on Monday that the United States would send more weapons to Ukraine, primarily defensive ones, to help it defend itself against Russian advances. On Tuesday he said he had approved such a move.
"We're sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine, and I've approved that," he said.
A decision by the Pentagon to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv last week that the move would weaken its ability to defend against Russia's intensifying air strikes and battlefield advances.
Trump, who was seated next to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was asked on Tuesday who had ordered that pause.
"I don't know. Why don't you tell me?" Trump responded.
with AP
President Donald Trump says he has approved sending US defensive weapons to Ukraine and is considering additional sanctions on Moscow, underscoring his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the growing death toll in Russia's war with Ukraine.
Trump, who pledged as a presidential candidate to end the war within a day, has not been able to follow through on that promise and efforts by his administration to broker peace have come up short.
Trump directed his ire at Putin on Tuesday during a meeting with cabinet officials at the White House.
"I'm not happy with Putin. I can tell you that much right now," Trump said, noting that Russian and Ukrainian soldiers were dying in the thousands.
"This is killing a lot of people.
"We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin. ... He's very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless."
Trump said he was considering whether to support a bill in the Senate that would impose steep sanctions on Russia over the war.
"I'm looking at it very strongly," he said.
The bill, whose lead sponsors are Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, would also punish other countries that trade with Moscow, imposing 500 per cent tariffs on nations that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports.
Trump said on Monday that the United States would send more weapons to Ukraine, primarily defensive ones, to help it defend itself against Russian advances. On Tuesday he said he had approved such a move.
"We're sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine, and I've approved that," he said.
A decision by the Pentagon to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv last week that the move would weaken its ability to defend against Russia's intensifying air strikes and battlefield advances.
Trump, who was seated next to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was asked on Tuesday who had ordered that pause.
"I don't know. Why don't you tell me?" Trump responded.
with AP
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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have agreed on the need for new solutions to the problem of illegal migration, Starmer's office says. The two met for lunch during on Wednesday, with both sides talking up the need to deliver concrete progress to stop migrants travelling to England from France. "The leaders agreed tackling the threat of irregular migration and small boat crossings is a shared priority that requires shared solutions," a summary of the meeting sent out by Starmer's office said. "The two leaders agreed on the need to go further and make progress on new and innovative solutions, including a new deterrent to break the business model of these gangs." Starmer is seeking to agree to a returns deal for asylum seekers ahead of a bilateral summit on Thursday. Such an agreement would help the prime minister meet a pledge to stop the flow of tens of thousands of people into the United Kingdom from across the Channel. 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"The two leaders agreed on the need to go further and make progress on new and innovative solutions, including a new deterrent to break the business model of these gangs." Starmer is seeking to agree to a returns deal for asylum seekers ahead of a bilateral summit on Thursday. Such an agreement would help the prime minister meet a pledge to stop the flow of tens of thousands of people into the United Kingdom from across the Channel. France has rejected a returns deal for asylum seekers in the past, saying the UK should negotiate with the European Union as a whole. Under Starmer's plan, the UK would deport one asylum seeker to France in exchange for another with a legitimate case. But in a speech on Tuesday, Macron spoke of the need to address "migration pull factors," suggesting any deal would require Starmer to make it harder for migrants who do not have legal status to live and work in the UK. The two countries have also been working to create a military force to back Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, and co-operation on trade and defence were themes in Macron's speech on Tuesday. Macron's three-day visit, at the invitation of King Charles III, is the first state visit to the UK by a European Union head of state since Brexit. The president and his wife, Brigitte Macron, were greeted on Tuesday on a red carpet at London's RAF Northolt air base by the Prince and Princess of Wales and they were met in Windsor, west of London, by King Charles and Queen Camilla. A military band played the French and UK national anthems as all four set out for the royal residence of Windsor Castle in horse-drawn carriages, through streets bedecked in Union Jacks and French tricolour flags. with AP UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have agreed on the need for new solutions to the problem of illegal migration, Starmer's office says. The two met for lunch during on Wednesday, with both sides talking up the need to deliver concrete progress to stop migrants travelling to England from France. "The leaders agreed tackling the threat of irregular migration and small boat crossings is a shared priority that requires shared solutions," a summary of the meeting sent out by Starmer's office said. "The two leaders agreed on the need to go further and make progress on new and innovative solutions, including a new deterrent to break the business model of these gangs." Starmer is seeking to agree to a returns deal for asylum seekers ahead of a bilateral summit on Thursday. Such an agreement would help the prime minister meet a pledge to stop the flow of tens of thousands of people into the United Kingdom from across the Channel. France has rejected a returns deal for asylum seekers in the past, saying the UK should negotiate with the European Union as a whole. 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Starmer is seeking to agree to a returns deal for asylum seekers ahead of a bilateral summit on Thursday. Such an agreement would help the prime minister meet a pledge to stop the flow of tens of thousands of people into the United Kingdom from across the Channel. France has rejected a returns deal for asylum seekers in the past, saying the UK should negotiate with the European Union as a whole. Under Starmer's plan, the UK would deport one asylum seeker to France in exchange for another with a legitimate case. But in a speech on Tuesday, Macron spoke of the need to address "migration pull factors," suggesting any deal would require Starmer to make it harder for migrants who do not have legal status to live and work in the UK. The two countries have also been working to create a military force to back Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, and co-operation on trade and defence were themes in Macron's speech on Tuesday. Macron's three-day visit, at the invitation of King Charles III, is the first state visit to the UK by a European Union head of state since Brexit. The president and his wife, Brigitte Macron, were greeted on Tuesday on a red carpet at London's RAF Northolt air base by the Prince and Princess of Wales and they were met in Windsor, west of London, by King Charles and Queen Camilla. A military band played the French and UK national anthems as all four set out for the royal residence of Windsor Castle in horse-drawn carriages, through streets bedecked in Union Jacks and French tricolour flags. with AP
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Biden's ex-doctor refuses to answer US Congress queries
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Comer has has sought testimony from nearly a dozen former Biden aides as he conducts his investigation, including former White House chiefs of staff Ron Klain and Jeff Zients; former senior advisers Mike Donilon and Anita Dunn; former deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed, former counsellor to the president Steve Ricchetti, former deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini and a former assistant to the president, Ashley Williams. He has also issued a subpoena for Anthony Bernal, the former chief of staff to former first lady Jill Biden. Trump's White House has waived executive privilege, a right that protects many communications between the president and staff from Congress and the courts, for almost all of those senior staffers. That clears the way for those staffers to discuss their conversations with Biden while he was president. Representative Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the Oversight panel, dismissed the Republican investigation as a waste of time. "Oversight Republicans could be working to lower costs for American families and conducting oversight of President Trump's corruption but instead are obsessed with the past," he said. Comer has said his committee will release a report of all its findings after the probe is complete. Former US president Joe Biden's White House physician has refused to answer questions as part of a House of Representatives Republican investigation into Biden's health in office. Dr Kevin O'Connor invoked his rights under the fifth amendment during a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee, his lawyer and politicians said. Republicans on the Oversight Committee subpoenaed O'Connor last month as part of a their sweeping investigation into Biden's health and his mental fitness as president. They assert some policies carried out during Biden's term through the use of the White House autopen may be illegitimate if it is proven the Democrat was mentally incapacitated for some of his term. Biden has strongly denied that he was not in a right state of mind at any point while in office, calling the claims "ridiculous and false". David Schertler, one of O'Connor's lawyers, said the doctor had "no choice" but to invoke his fifth amendment rights in testimony before the committee. Schertler cited both O'Connor's responsibilities to protect patient privacy as a doctor and the Justice Department's ongoing investigation into Biden's use of the autopen. Representative James Comer of Kentucky, the Oversight chair, said O'Connor's refusal to testify made it "clear there was a conspiracy". "The American people demand transparency but Dr O'Connor would rather conceal the truth," Comer said in a statement. Witnesses routinely invoke their fifth amendment rights in testimony to Congress. Allies of President Donald Trump, for example, invoked their rights when refusing to testify to the committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by a mob of his supporters. Comer has has sought testimony from nearly a dozen former Biden aides as he conducts his investigation, including former White House chiefs of staff Ron Klain and Jeff Zients; former senior advisers Mike Donilon and Anita Dunn; former deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed, former counsellor to the president Steve Ricchetti, former deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini and a former assistant to the president, Ashley Williams. He has also issued a subpoena for Anthony Bernal, the former chief of staff to former first lady Jill Biden. Trump's White House has waived executive privilege, a right that protects many communications between the president and staff from Congress and the courts, for almost all of those senior staffers. That clears the way for those staffers to discuss their conversations with Biden while he was president. Representative Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the Oversight panel, dismissed the Republican investigation as a waste of time. "Oversight Republicans could be working to lower costs for American families and conducting oversight of President Trump's corruption but instead are obsessed with the past," he said. Comer has said his committee will release a report of all its findings after the probe is complete. Former US president Joe Biden's White House physician has refused to answer questions as part of a House of Representatives Republican investigation into Biden's health in office. Dr Kevin O'Connor invoked his rights under the fifth amendment during a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee, his lawyer and politicians said. Republicans on the Oversight Committee subpoenaed O'Connor last month as part of a their sweeping investigation into Biden's health and his mental fitness as president. They assert some policies carried out during Biden's term through the use of the White House autopen may be illegitimate if it is proven the Democrat was mentally incapacitated for some of his term. Biden has strongly denied that he was not in a right state of mind at any point while in office, calling the claims "ridiculous and false". David Schertler, one of O'Connor's lawyers, said the doctor had "no choice" but to invoke his fifth amendment rights in testimony before the committee. Schertler cited both O'Connor's responsibilities to protect patient privacy as a doctor and the Justice Department's ongoing investigation into Biden's use of the autopen. Representative James Comer of Kentucky, the Oversight chair, said O'Connor's refusal to testify made it "clear there was a conspiracy". "The American people demand transparency but Dr O'Connor would rather conceal the truth," Comer said in a statement. Witnesses routinely invoke their fifth amendment rights in testimony to Congress. Allies of President Donald Trump, for example, invoked their rights when refusing to testify to the committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by a mob of his supporters. Comer has has sought testimony from nearly a dozen former Biden aides as he conducts his investigation, including former White House chiefs of staff Ron Klain and Jeff Zients; former senior advisers Mike Donilon and Anita Dunn; former deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed, former counsellor to the president Steve Ricchetti, former deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini and a former assistant to the president, Ashley Williams. He has also issued a subpoena for Anthony Bernal, the former chief of staff to former first lady Jill Biden. Trump's White House has waived executive privilege, a right that protects many communications between the president and staff from Congress and the courts, for almost all of those senior staffers. That clears the way for those staffers to discuss their conversations with Biden while he was president. Representative Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the Oversight panel, dismissed the Republican investigation as a waste of time. "Oversight Republicans could be working to lower costs for American families and conducting oversight of President Trump's corruption but instead are obsessed with the past," he said. Comer has said his committee will release a report of all its findings after the probe is complete. Former US president Joe Biden's White House physician has refused to answer questions as part of a House of Representatives Republican investigation into Biden's health in office. Dr Kevin O'Connor invoked his rights under the fifth amendment during a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee, his lawyer and politicians said. Republicans on the Oversight Committee subpoenaed O'Connor last month as part of a their sweeping investigation into Biden's health and his mental fitness as president. They assert some policies carried out during Biden's term through the use of the White House autopen may be illegitimate if it is proven the Democrat was mentally incapacitated for some of his term. Biden has strongly denied that he was not in a right state of mind at any point while in office, calling the claims "ridiculous and false". David Schertler, one of O'Connor's lawyers, said the doctor had "no choice" but to invoke his fifth amendment rights in testimony before the committee. Schertler cited both O'Connor's responsibilities to protect patient privacy as a doctor and the Justice Department's ongoing investigation into Biden's use of the autopen. Representative James Comer of Kentucky, the Oversight chair, said O'Connor's refusal to testify made it "clear there was a conspiracy". "The American people demand transparency but Dr O'Connor would rather conceal the truth," Comer said in a statement. Witnesses routinely invoke their fifth amendment rights in testimony to Congress. Allies of President Donald Trump, for example, invoked their rights when refusing to testify to the committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by a mob of his supporters. Comer has has sought testimony from nearly a dozen former Biden aides as he conducts his investigation, including former White House chiefs of staff Ron Klain and Jeff Zients; former senior advisers Mike Donilon and Anita Dunn; former deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed, former counsellor to the president Steve Ricchetti, former deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini and a former assistant to the president, Ashley Williams. He has also issued a subpoena for Anthony Bernal, the former chief of staff to former first lady Jill Biden. Trump's White House has waived executive privilege, a right that protects many communications between the president and staff from Congress and the courts, for almost all of those senior staffers. That clears the way for those staffers to discuss their conversations with Biden while he was president. Representative Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the Oversight panel, dismissed the Republican investigation as a waste of time. "Oversight Republicans could be working to lower costs for American families and conducting oversight of President Trump's corruption but instead are obsessed with the past," he said. Comer has said his committee will release a report of all its findings after the probe is complete.
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Pope tells Zelenskiy Vatican could host Ukraine talks
Pope Leo has told visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the Vatican is willing to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks. The Pope, meeting the Ukrainian leader for the second time in his two-month-old papacy, also discussed "the urgent need for a just and lasting peace," the Vatican said in a statement. Zelenskiy and Leo held talks in Castel Gandolfo, a small Italian hill town not far from Rome, where the Pope is having a two-week holiday. Zelenskiy said on X that holding talks with Russia in the Vatican would be "entirely possible, with the goal of stopping Russian aggression and achieving a stable, lasting, and genuine peace". But he said Russia had rejected such proposals, "as it has turned down all other peace initiatives". Russian officials have told Reuters in the past that they did not see the Vatican as a serious venue for talks because it is surrounded by NATO military alliance member Italy which has supported Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader is in Italy to attend a conference on July 10-11 dedicated to Ukraine's recovery and long-term reconstruction following Russia's invasion. The Vatican did not say how long the meeting between Leo and Zelenskiy lasted. It released video showing Leo, the first US-born pontiff, asking Zelenskiy "How are things going?" in English as they sat in a large room together. Leo, who has made appealing for peace in world conflicts a major theme of his young papacy, previously met Zelenskiy at the Vatican on May 18. The Pope also held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, during which the Vatican said Leo had asked Putin to take concrete steps to end Russia's three-year war on Ukraine. US President Donald Trump suggested in May that Leo had offered to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks although the pontiff did not discuss it publicly at the time. Russian forces targeted Ukraine with 728 drones early on Wednesday, Ukrainian authorities said. Ukraine's military downed almost all the drones but some of the six hypersonic missiles launched by Russia had caused unspecified damage, air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said on Ukrainian television. Officials reported one person killed by drone debris in western Ukraine. Russia's defence ministry said it had struck military airfields. Closer to the battle zone, eight people were reported killed by drones and guided bombs in the Ukrainian-held part of the frontline Donetsk region. Trump said on Tuesday he was considering supporting a bill that would impose steep sanctions on Russia, including 500 per cent tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports. When asked by a reporter what action he would take against Putin, Trump said: "I wouldn't tell you. We want to have a little surprise." Pope Leo has told visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the Vatican is willing to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks. The Pope, meeting the Ukrainian leader for the second time in his two-month-old papacy, also discussed "the urgent need for a just and lasting peace," the Vatican said in a statement. Zelenskiy and Leo held talks in Castel Gandolfo, a small Italian hill town not far from Rome, where the Pope is having a two-week holiday. Zelenskiy said on X that holding talks with Russia in the Vatican would be "entirely possible, with the goal of stopping Russian aggression and achieving a stable, lasting, and genuine peace". But he said Russia had rejected such proposals, "as it has turned down all other peace initiatives". Russian officials have told Reuters in the past that they did not see the Vatican as a serious venue for talks because it is surrounded by NATO military alliance member Italy which has supported Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader is in Italy to attend a conference on July 10-11 dedicated to Ukraine's recovery and long-term reconstruction following Russia's invasion. The Vatican did not say how long the meeting between Leo and Zelenskiy lasted. It released video showing Leo, the first US-born pontiff, asking Zelenskiy "How are things going?" in English as they sat in a large room together. Leo, who has made appealing for peace in world conflicts a major theme of his young papacy, previously met Zelenskiy at the Vatican on May 18. The Pope also held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, during which the Vatican said Leo had asked Putin to take concrete steps to end Russia's three-year war on Ukraine. US President Donald Trump suggested in May that Leo had offered to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks although the pontiff did not discuss it publicly at the time. Russian forces targeted Ukraine with 728 drones early on Wednesday, Ukrainian authorities said. Ukraine's military downed almost all the drones but some of the six hypersonic missiles launched by Russia had caused unspecified damage, air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said on Ukrainian television. Officials reported one person killed by drone debris in western Ukraine. Russia's defence ministry said it had struck military airfields. Closer to the battle zone, eight people were reported killed by drones and guided bombs in the Ukrainian-held part of the frontline Donetsk region. Trump said on Tuesday he was considering supporting a bill that would impose steep sanctions on Russia, including 500 per cent tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports. When asked by a reporter what action he would take against Putin, Trump said: "I wouldn't tell you. We want to have a little surprise." Pope Leo has told visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the Vatican is willing to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks. The Pope, meeting the Ukrainian leader for the second time in his two-month-old papacy, also discussed "the urgent need for a just and lasting peace," the Vatican said in a statement. Zelenskiy and Leo held talks in Castel Gandolfo, a small Italian hill town not far from Rome, where the Pope is having a two-week holiday. Zelenskiy said on X that holding talks with Russia in the Vatican would be "entirely possible, with the goal of stopping Russian aggression and achieving a stable, lasting, and genuine peace". But he said Russia had rejected such proposals, "as it has turned down all other peace initiatives". Russian officials have told Reuters in the past that they did not see the Vatican as a serious venue for talks because it is surrounded by NATO military alliance member Italy which has supported Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader is in Italy to attend a conference on July 10-11 dedicated to Ukraine's recovery and long-term reconstruction following Russia's invasion. The Vatican did not say how long the meeting between Leo and Zelenskiy lasted. It released video showing Leo, the first US-born pontiff, asking Zelenskiy "How are things going?" in English as they sat in a large room together. Leo, who has made appealing for peace in world conflicts a major theme of his young papacy, previously met Zelenskiy at the Vatican on May 18. The Pope also held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, during which the Vatican said Leo had asked Putin to take concrete steps to end Russia's three-year war on Ukraine. US President Donald Trump suggested in May that Leo had offered to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks although the pontiff did not discuss it publicly at the time. Russian forces targeted Ukraine with 728 drones early on Wednesday, Ukrainian authorities said. Ukraine's military downed almost all the drones but some of the six hypersonic missiles launched by Russia had caused unspecified damage, air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said on Ukrainian television. Officials reported one person killed by drone debris in western Ukraine. Russia's defence ministry said it had struck military airfields. Closer to the battle zone, eight people were reported killed by drones and guided bombs in the Ukrainian-held part of the frontline Donetsk region. Trump said on Tuesday he was considering supporting a bill that would impose steep sanctions on Russia, including 500 per cent tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports. When asked by a reporter what action he would take against Putin, Trump said: "I wouldn't tell you. We want to have a little surprise." Pope Leo has told visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the Vatican is willing to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks. The Pope, meeting the Ukrainian leader for the second time in his two-month-old papacy, also discussed "the urgent need for a just and lasting peace," the Vatican said in a statement. Zelenskiy and Leo held talks in Castel Gandolfo, a small Italian hill town not far from Rome, where the Pope is having a two-week holiday. Zelenskiy said on X that holding talks with Russia in the Vatican would be "entirely possible, with the goal of stopping Russian aggression and achieving a stable, lasting, and genuine peace". But he said Russia had rejected such proposals, "as it has turned down all other peace initiatives". Russian officials have told Reuters in the past that they did not see the Vatican as a serious venue for talks because it is surrounded by NATO military alliance member Italy which has supported Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader is in Italy to attend a conference on July 10-11 dedicated to Ukraine's recovery and long-term reconstruction following Russia's invasion. The Vatican did not say how long the meeting between Leo and Zelenskiy lasted. It released video showing Leo, the first US-born pontiff, asking Zelenskiy "How are things going?" in English as they sat in a large room together. Leo, who has made appealing for peace in world conflicts a major theme of his young papacy, previously met Zelenskiy at the Vatican on May 18. The Pope also held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, during which the Vatican said Leo had asked Putin to take concrete steps to end Russia's three-year war on Ukraine. US President Donald Trump suggested in May that Leo had offered to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks although the pontiff did not discuss it publicly at the time. Russian forces targeted Ukraine with 728 drones early on Wednesday, Ukrainian authorities said. Ukraine's military downed almost all the drones but some of the six hypersonic missiles launched by Russia had caused unspecified damage, air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said on Ukrainian television. Officials reported one person killed by drone debris in western Ukraine. Russia's defence ministry said it had struck military airfields. Closer to the battle zone, eight people were reported killed by drones and guided bombs in the Ukrainian-held part of the frontline Donetsk region. Trump said on Tuesday he was considering supporting a bill that would impose steep sanctions on Russia, including 500 per cent tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and other exports. When asked by a reporter what action he would take against Putin, Trump said: "I wouldn't tell you. We want to have a little surprise."
